Gold-dredge.



PATENTED JAN. 29, 1907.

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H. J. CLARK. GOLD DREDGB.

I APPLIOATION FILED APR. 9. 1906.

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PATENTED JAN. 29

H. J. CLARK.

GOLD DREDGE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9. 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIcE'.

HORACE J. CLARK, OF BOISE, IDAHO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLARK DREDGINGCOMPANY, OF'OHIOAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEVADA.

GOLD DREDGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 29, 1907.

' Application filed April 9, 1906. Serial No. 310.859.

Be it known that I, HoRAoE J. CLARK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boise, in the county of Ada, State of Idaho, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Gold-Dredges, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a dredge, and particularly to a constructionand arrangement of parts adapted for dredging gold and other minerals.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improvedconstruction and arrangement of the suction-pipe with its scoops inindependently-operated sectlons, both of which are adapted to deliver tosuitable pumps, from which they maybe discharged.

A further object is to provide a novel and improved construction ofscoop carried by the suction-shaft and provided with receiving-openingat the free end thereof and a solid face over which the lar or materialis adapted to travel and be de ivered in the oscillation of the scoop.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will behereinafter fully set forth, and the novel features thereof defined bythe ap ended claims.

In the rawings, Figure 1 is a side View of the dredge with parts brokenaway'. Fig. 2 is a plan thereof. Fig; 3 is a detail perspective of thesuction-pipe and scoops carried thereby. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectionof the suction-pipe and priming connection, and F ig.'5 is a detailsection of the connection of the suction-pipe at the pivotal point ofits supporting-arm.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews of the drawings.

The numeral 1 designates the hull or boat structure by which the dredgeis carried, which may be of any desired construction or configurationsuitable for the work to be performed. It is preferably provided atopposite sides with supporting-arms 2, pivotally mounted at their innerends 3 and adapted to support the conveying-pipe 4, which at its outerend communicates with the suctionpipe 5, mounted to oscillate or rotatein the free ends 6 of the supporting-arms. This suction-pipe is providedwiththe scoop 7, havin an opening 8 at its outer end of suitable iameteror proportion to receive the desired size of material upon which themachine is to operate, and the size of this opening may be varied forthat purpose. The upper face 9 of this scoop is formed solid, so thatthe material which rests thereon travels backward in the upwardoscillation of the scoop and is discharged therefrom when the scoopreaches its raised position, as shown at the right of Fig. 3. Thismotion of the scoop and suction-pipe maybe provided in any de siredmannerfor instance, by means of the eccentric pulley 10, mounted on theflanged end 1 1 of the suction-pipe 5, which mounting provides abearing-sleeve 12 in the end 6 of the arms, as shown in Fig. 4. Thepulley maybe driven by a belt or chain 13, extend ing therefrom to asimilarly-disposed pulley 14 at the pivotal point of the arm, as shownin Fig. 5. This pulley is formed upon or secured to the outer end of atubular drivingshaft 15, upon which the gear 16 is mounted. This shaftforms the pivot for the side arm 2 and is mounted in the side wall 17 ofthe hull or boat. The delivery-pipe 4 is suitably curved, as shown at18, so as to enter this tubular shaft at the axis of the arms, thuspermitting a free movement Without inter-.

fering with the delivery of the material. The inner end of this shaft isconnected in any desired manner with a pump 19, preferably of acentrifugal character, from which sire form of ore-separating mechanism,as indicated at 21, which may be mounted in an inclined position, asshown, and adapted to deliver at its lower end into a suitable hopper22-.

For the purpose ofdriving the tubular shaft 15 and oscillating thescoops therefrom any preferred connections may be provided. Forinstance, the main driving-shaft 23, adapted to beactuated by anysuitable engine, may be formed with the geared connection 24 with thelateral driving-shaft 25, which is provided with pinion 26, slidablymounted thereon and meshing with the driving-gear 16, while it isadapted to be moved out of mesh therewith by the pivoted lever 27. Thecentrifugal pumps are also simultaneously driven by means of the gear28,

the dpipe connection 20 extends to any demounted upon the driving-shaft23 and meshing with cooperating gears 29 at opposite sides each upon theshaft of the pump 19.

Each of the scoops herein shown are adapted to be independently operatedand are connected 'to a centrally-disposed primingchamber 30, providedwith choke-nozzles 31, extending into the couplings 32, which are boltedto the securing-flanges of the suction device. The couplings are alsoprovided with a suitably-packed joint 34 between the same and thepriming-chamber 30.

liquid-supply by means of the conductingpipes 33, extending in oppositedirections therefrom and upward upon the supportingarms 2, from whichthe flexible connections 57 extend to a conducting-pipe 36 from the pump35, which is driven from the main shaft 23 by the gear connection 37, asshown in Fig. 2.

The arms carrying the scoops and suctionpipes are adapted to be raisedand lowered in any desired manner-for instance, by means of thewindlasses 38, carried upon the shaft 39 at the forward portion of thehull, and provided with connecting-cables 40, extending to the cross-bar41, by which the arms are connected at the front of the boat. This shaftis provided with driving-gears 42 at its opposite ends, adapted to meshwith the pinion 43, carried upon the driving-shaft 44, which has thegeared connection 45 with the main driving-shaft 23. Reversing-gears 45are carried by the shaft 44 and adapted to mesh with theslidingly-mounted pinion 47, carried upon the shaft 39 and adapted to beoperated thereon by the levers 48 in order to reverse the direction ofrotation of said shaft and windlasses. At the rear of the shaft 44 ashaft 50 is provided and carries the Windlass 51, from which cables 52are adapted to extend to any fixed point for the purpose of moving theboat to the necessary extent for feeding the scoops into the material tobe raised. This shaft is driven by the gearedconnection 53 with the maindriving-shaft 23. For the purpose of retaining the boat in any desiredposition, the securing spud or pile 54 is provided thereon at the rearportion and adapted to be extended downward into the bed of the waterwayby any desired means for instance, the steam-cylinder 55 of ordinaryconstruction.

In the operation of the invention it will be seen that the dredge ismoved in position so that the scoops will engage the material to beraised, and the oscillatory movement of the scoop causes the finermaterial to enter the point thereof, while the larger material passesbackward and is discharged at its rear. These scoops are mounted uponindependentlymovable sections of the suction-pipe and communicate withthe interior thereof, so that they may be operated in alternation, as

This chamber 18 in communication with a source of shown in Fig. 3, andthe priming-chamber provides a constant flow of liquid through thesepipes when the same are elevated into the atmosphere when discharged-as,for instance, when operated in shoal water or when the arms and scoopsare raised to discharge upon the boat. For this purpose a double pumpconstruction is provided with suction upward through both pipes inde-'endently from the f eed-pipe extending to the priming-chamber, whichpermits an independent operation of either scoop.

In the operation of the scoop the power is applied to the driving-gearfor the eccentric pulleys thereof, so as to' produce an upward diggingmovement of the scoop until the same reaches the position shown at theright of Fig. 3, when the power is disconnected and the scoop returns toits lower position (shown at the left of said figure) by gravity. Thepriming-chamber performs an important function in deep dredging wherethe friction of the suction-pipe exceeds or weakens the vacuum orlifting capacity of the pump, when a hydraulic stream under pressure ofone hundred or more pounds per square inch is forced through thepriming-chamber, thus carrying the material off into the area ofstronger suction and assisting the action of the lifting-pump. Thispriming-chamber is also important when by reason of lifting the scoopsabove the water they are exposed to the atmospheric pressure. In suchevent the priming-stream maintains the pumps in con- (lition forcontinuous operation and prevents the breaking of the suctiontherethrough.

Having now described my invention and set forth its merits, what Iclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a dredge, a suction-pipe formed in a plurality of sections, meansfor independently operating said sections, and scoops carried by saidsections and provided with an inlet-opening for material thereto.

2. In a dredge, a suction-pipe formed in a plurality of sections, meansfor independently operating said sections, scoops carried by saidsections and provided with an inletopening for material thereto, and aprimingchamber disposed intermediate of said sections and connected witha source of supply.

3. In a dredge, a suction-pipe formed in a plurality of sections, meansfor independently operating said sections, scoops carried by saidsections and provided with an inletopening for material thereto, aprimingchamber disposed intermediate of said sections and connected witha source of supply, and a nozzle extending from the primingchambertoward each suction-pipe.

4. In a dredge, a suction-pipe formed in a plurality of sections, meansfor independently operating said sections, scoops carried by saidsections and provided with an inlet- ICC opening for material thereto, aprimingchamber disposed intermediate of said sections and connected witha source of supply, a nozzle extending from the priming-chamber towardeach suction-pipe, a boat structure, pivoted supporting-arms at oppositesides thereof and connected at their free ends by the suction-pipes, andconducting-pipes carried by said arms and communicating with saidsuction-pipes.

5. In a dredge, a suction-pipe formed in a plurality of sections, meansfor independently operating said sections, scoops carried by saidsections and provided with an inletopening for material thereto, aprimingchamber disposed intermediate of said sections and connected witha source of supply, a nozzle extending from the priming-chamber towardeach suction-pipe, a boat struc-' ture, pivoted supporting-arms atopposite sides thereof and connected at their free ends by thesuction-pipes, conducting-pipes carried by said arms and communicatingwith said suctionpipes, and centrifugal pumps connected with saidconducting-pipes at the pivot of said arms.

6. In a dredge, a suction-pipe, and a hollow scoop in communicationtherewith and provided with an upper carrying-face and an opening at itspoint or free end to receive material.

7. In a dredge, a suction-pipe, a conducting-pipe extending from theaxis of the suction-pipe, a supporting-arm for said suctionpipe pivotedat its inner end, and a connection from the conducting-pipe at thepivotal point of said arm.

8. In a dredge, a suction-pipe, a conducting-pipe extending from theaxis of the suc tion-pipe, a supporting-arm for said suctionpipe pivotedat its inner end, a connection from the conducting-pipe at the pivotalpoint of said arm, a tubular driving-shaft in communication with saidconducting-pipe,

and a pump connected to said shaft.

9. In a dredge, a suction-pipe, a conducting-pipe extending from theaxis of said suction-pipe, a supporting-arm for said suctionpipe pivotedat its inner end, a connection from the conducting-pipe at the pivotalpoint of said arm, a tubular driving-shaft in communication with saidconducting-pipe, a pump connected to said shaft, a driving-gearconnected to said tubular shaft, and a driving-pulley carried by theouter end of said shaft for transmitting power to the suctionpipe foroscillating the same.

10. In a dredge, a plurality of suction pipes each provided with a scoopcommunicating therewith, a fixed primingchamber disposed intermediate ofsaid suction-pipes, means for independently moving said pipes relativeto the priming-chamber, and means for transmitting pressure to saidchamber.

11. In a dredge, a plurality of suctionpipes each provided with a scoopcommunicating therewith, a fixed priming-chamber disposed intermediateof said suction-pipes, means for independently moving said pipesrelative to the priming-chamber, means for transmitting pressure to saidchamber, and oppositely-extending choke-nozzles carried by said chamberand disposed within the coupling connections for said suction-pipes.

12. In a dredge, a main driving-shaft, pumps disposed. at the oppositesides thereof, a gear carried by said shaft for driving said pumps,suction-pipes, and conducting-pipes at opposite sides of the dredgecommunicating with said pumps and suction-pipes.

13. In a dredge, a main driving-shaft, pumps disposed at opposite sidesthereof, a gear carried by said shaft for driving said pumps, suction-pies, conducti11g-pipes at opposite sides 0ft e dredge communicating withsaid pumps and suction-pipes, driving means carried by the pumpconnections for moving said suction-pipes, a transverse shaft providedwith gear connections to rotate said driving means, and a gearconnection between the driving-shaft and said transverse shaft.

14. In a dredge, a main driving-shaft, pumps disposed at opposite sidesthereof,'a gear carried by said shaft for driving saidpumps, suction-pies, conducting-pipes at opposite sides of t e dredge communicating withsaid pum s and suction-pipes, driving means carried by the pumpconnections-for moving said suction-pipes, a transverse shaft providedwith gear connections to rotate said driving means, a gear connectionbetween the driving-shaft and said transverse shaft, a priming-pipecommunicating with said suction-pipes, a pump for supplying pressure tosaid priming-pipe, and a gear connection between said driving-shaft andsaid pump.

15. In a dredge, a main driving-shaft, pumps disposed at opposite sidesthereof, a gear carried by said shaft for driving said pumps,suction-pipes, conducting-pipes at opposite sides of the dredgecommunicating with said pumps and suction-pipes, driving means carried ythe pump connections for moving said suction-pipes, a transverse shaftprovided with gear connections to rotate said driving means, a gearconnection between the driving-shaft and said transverse shaft, apriming-pipe communicating with said suction-pipes, a pump for supplyingpressure to said priming-pipe, a gear connection between thedriving-shaft and said pump, pivotallymounted arms carrying saidsuction-pipe and conducting-pipes, a Windlass for controlling said armscarried u on a cross-shaft, and a geared connection etween saidcross-shaft and the main driving-shaft.

16. In a dredge, a main driving-shaft, pumps disposed at opposite sidesthereof, a gear carried by said shaftfor driving said pumps,suction-pipes, conducting-pipes at opposite sides of the dredgecommunicating with said pumps and suction-pipes, driving means carriedby the pump connections for moving said suction-pipes, a transverseshaft provided with gear connections to rotate said driving means, ageared connection between the driving-shaft and said transverse shaft, apriming-pipe communicating with said suction-pipes, a pump for supplyingpressure to said priming-pipe, a geared connection between thedriving-shai't and said pump, pivotally-mounted arms carrying saidsuctionpipes and conducting-pipes, a Windlass for controlling said armscarried upon a crossshaft, a geared-connection between said cross shaftand the main driving-shaft, a Windlassshaft, a counter-shaft for drivingand reversing the drive thereof, and a geared connection between saidcounter-shaft and the main drivin g-sh aft.

In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

HORACE J. CLARK.

Witnesses:

E. S. RICE, E. A KELLY.

